Rigging for handling drums and barrels



Dec. 31, 1946. E. w. ASHE NDEN 2,413,280

RIGGING FOR HANDLING DRWS AND BARRELS 4 4- Sheec-Sheet 1 Filed July 10,1944 I V Alva/roe Eemssr WAs ENDEN A 7'T KNEY-5 Dec. 31, 1946. l E. W.ASHENDEN RIGGING'FOR HANDLING DRUMS AND BARRELS Filed July 10, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 2 //vvs-rox' EENESTmflSHENDEN ATT E'NEYs- E. w. ASHENDEN2,413,280 RIGGIFNG' FOR HANDLING DRUMS AND BARRELS Filed Jui 1p, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 31, 1946.

Dec. 31, 1946.

E. w. ASHE NDEN v RIGGING FOR HANDLING DRUMS, AND BARRELS r Filed July10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 31, 1946 STAT TENT 'FFICERIGGING FOR HANDLING DRUMS AND BARRELS Application July 10, 1944, SerialNo. 544,283

4 Claims.

Various commodities are now shipped in sealed containers such ascylindrical drums or barrels, and when such drums or barrels areunloaded from ships or vessels at points where no docks or staging isavailable, it frequently becomes necessary to unload them in the waterin soft sand and mud, after which they must be transported from thepoint of unloading to storage places remote therefrom. This isparticularly true during war time when supplies for the armed forcesmust be shipped to various points or places where no docks areavailable, as, for example newly established beach heads. In such cases,the ships or vessels transporting supplies usually delay making landingsfor unloading until the tide comes in which may cause the surface of theocean to rise several feet whereby loaded ships, vessels and otherlanding craft may frequently advance much farther inland beforeunloading.

When it becomes necessary to unload at points where no unloading clocksare available, filled containers, such as barrels, drums, and the like,are frequently dumped overboard directlyinto the water, and when thetide recedes, the containers are transported from the shore to availablestorage places or shelters on the beach head. If the terrain upon whichthe containers have been dumped from the vessels is rough or soft andmuddy, it may be extremely diificult to manually transport them inlandonto dry ground, particularly if the containers are cylindrical drums orbarrels, as many such barrels or drums when filled or loaded may be veryheavy. Heretofcre it has been more or less common practice to manuallyroll the sealed drums or barrels over the rough ground surface by apushing effort, the individuals or persons walking behind the barrel androlling it before him. This may frequently be a difficult task and, as aresult, may require considerable labor. I

The present invention pertains more particularly to a novel rigging tofacilitate manually moving or transporting cylindrical. barrels or drumsfrom one place to another by a rolling action, and has been foundparticularly useful to roll heavy barrels or drums along a platform orrunway, or over relatively rough terrain, such as may be encounteredwhen transporting containers from a waterfront, which containers maypreviously have been unloaded ordumped therefrom a ship or vessel duringhigh tide.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide asimple, inexpensive rigging for transporting loaded barrels or drums bya rolling action, and whereby "one or more such drums may readily andconveniently be transported from one place to another, over rough orsoft ground, with a minimum of effort and labor. A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a rigging for transporting one or moredrums or barrels from one place to another by rolling the barrels alongthe ground or other surface, each barrel being provided at each end withan axially located stud to which the novel rigging hereindisclosed isattached, after which the filled drums or barrels may readily be rolledalong a relatively soft or rough surface by one or more individualsgrasping the handles of the rigging. A further object is to provide arigging for handling drums or barrels whereby a single drum may readilyand conveniently be rolled along the ground from one place to anotherand if desired, two or more such drums' may be coupled together intandem whereby several such drums or bar rels may readily be transportedfrom one p1aceto another at the same time With a minimum 'of effort andmanpower.

, A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a.rigging of the class described comprising an elongated handle having asuitable draft element connected to each end thereof and each draftelement being provided at its free end with an attachment member adaptedto detachably engage suitable studs secured to the end walls of thedrum, whereby an individual may grasp the handle and readily roll thedrum or barre-l along the ground by a pulling effort.

Other objects of the invention reside in the particular arrangement ofthe studs at the ends of the barrel or drum, each of which is providedwith an enlarged head, and the heads of said studs being located inplanes disposed within the planes of the annular rings or flangesprovided at the ends of the drum, whereby the drums may be placed onend, and if desired, may be stacked one on top of another in endwiserelation; in the provision of the attachment members provided at thefree ends of the draft elements for detachably connecting the draftelements to the studs of the drum; in the means provided wherebyaplurality of drums may be quickly connected together for movement intandem; in the provision of such a rigging which may be used for rollingdrums or barrels along a shore-line or floor and which is also soarranged that it may readily be connected to a hoisting apparatus, whensuch equipment is available, for lifting the drums or barrels from afloor onto a dock or platform; and in the simple and inexpensiveconstruction of the rigging whereby it may be manufactured alt-small 3cost and whereby it is relatively light in weight and capable of beingstored in a relatively small space when not in use.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention in its simplifiedform attached to a drum or barrel;

Figure 2 is an end view of a drum showing the attachment memberpartially disengaged from the stud; Figure 3 is an enlarged detailsectional View substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1, showing thehead of the stud positioned in a plane within the plane of the edge ofthe annular flange provided at each end of the drum;

Figure 4 is a View showing a slightly different construction whereinflexible cables are utilized as draft elements and also whereby thedrums may be coupled together for tandem movement; 1 Figure 5 is a planview of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view showing two individual barrelriggings coupled together for tandem operation;

Figure 7 is a view showing one of the coupling members detached from therigging;

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the structureshown in Figure 6, illustrating the simple manner of detaching thecoupling member from the draft handles and also how the bridle may bequickly detached from the draft handle;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view substantially on the line 9-9 ofFigure 8;

Figure 10 is a view showing a rigging adapted for handling four drums orbarrels;

Figure 11 is a plan view of Figure 10;

Figure-l2 is a view on a reducedscale showing two drums stackedone ontop of the other.

The invention, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a suitable elongatedhandle 2 provided at each end with a hand grip 3.; A pair of flexibledraft elements, generally designated by the numeral 4, and here showncomposed of suitable chains, each have one end secured'to the handle 2adjacent the handle-portions 3 thereof. The opposite end of each chain 4has an attachment member, generally designated by the numeral 5,attached thereto. Each attachment member 5 comprises an enlarged headportion 6 provided at one end with an elongated reduced extension 1whose outer end or terminal is pierced to provide means whereby an endof one of the draft chains 4 may be connectedthereto.

- The enlarged head portion 6 of each attachmentmember 5 is shownprovided with a key slot 8 which extends lengthwise of the head 6 and isadapted to receive a stud 9 whereby the attachment member may bedetachably secured to the drum, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and3.

he drum, generally designated by the numeral I. I, is shown providedwith end walls I2 each having an opening I3 therein which normally isclosed and sealed by a suitable cover plate l4, secured to theirrespective end walls 2 by Suitable cap screws l 5. The end walls I2 ofthe drum I I may be constructed of comparatively light metal, andsuitable nuts I6 may therefore be welded to the inner-surfaces of theend walls to receive the threaded cap screws I5 which secure the coverplates I4 in position on the end walls.

Some drums or barrels now in commercial use have their closure plates I4eccentrically disposed, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. When the coverplates are thus eccentrically located in the drum heads, the studs 9 areeccentrically mounted in the cover plates I4 so as to locate them in theaxis of the drum which is important in order that the drum may rollfreely when pulled along by the rigging, as shown in Figure 1.

Cover plates I4, such as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, arefrequently provided with an annular reinforced rib I? which necessitatesthat the reduced extension I of each attachment member 5 be offset fromthe plane of the head 6, as shown in Figure 3. The offset I8 of eachattachment member 5 is also sufficiently great to permit the extension Iof each attachment member to readily clear the edges I9 of the endflanges 2| of the drum, as best shown in Figure 3. The offset I8'of eachattachment member is so located with respect to the key slot 8, thatwhen the attachment member 5 is positioned as shown in Figure 3, theoffset portion I8 will not engage the reinforcing rib or bead I1.

Each stud 9 is shown provided with a head 22 which is of such size thatit may readily pass through the enlarged opening 23 of each key slot 8,therebyto permit the draft elements 4 to be quickly coupled to oruncoupled from the drum studs 9, as will be understood by reference tothe drawings.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the particulararrangement of the studs 9 at each end'of the drum. These studs, as bestshown in Figure 3, are of such length with respect to the depth of theend flanges 26 of the drum or barrel ends that their heads 22 are spacedinwardly from the flange edges I9,

' whereby the drums or barrels may be placed on end upon a floor orplatform, and also whereby they'may be stacked, one on top of another,as shown in Figure 12, I to conserve floor space. When so stacked, itmay be deemed necessary to interpose suitable strips or pieces of boardbetween drums, as shown in Figure 12. g

The structure illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is extremely simple inconstruction and very simple to operate. The key slots 8 make itpossible to quickly disengage the attachment members 5 from the studs 9of the barrel ends, and they may be as readily coupled thereto. Thedraft elements or chains 4 are preferably permanently secured to thehandle 2 whereby when the attachment members 5 are detached from thestuds 9, the rigging, including the handle 2, draft elements 4 andattachment members 5, may readily be stored in a comparatively small,out of the way place, as will be understood.

The invention has been found extremely practical for transporting ormoving drums, barrels and the like, over rough ground surfaces andthrough wet soft places where the filled drums may previously have beenunloaded from a ship or vessel, by simply attaching the rigging to thestuds 9 at the ends of each barrel, as shown in Figure 1. The drum maythen be readilyrolled along by a pulling effort applied to the handle 2.

In Figures 4 to 9, inclusive, I have shown an apparatus which isparticularly suitable for transporting a'plurality of drums'at one time.In these figures twodrums'are shown coupledtogether-in tandem, but it isto be understood that any number of drums may-be socoupledtogether,--'depending upon power available for transporting them. Asshown in Figures-4 and 5, two riggings are employed which willhereinafterbe referred to as IA andB. Each-rigging, as hereinbeforestated, includes a handle 24 and draft elements 25 correspondingrespectively to the handle Zand draft elements 4 shown inFigure 1. Theriggings A and B are coupled together for operation asa unitby suitablecouplingrmembers, generally designated by the numeral- 26.

1 Each coupling-member. 2t is shown comprising a sectionofcable 21having asuitable coupling plate 28 connected toeach end thereof, eachhaving a'key slot. 8 therein corresponding to'thekey slotshown intheattachment elements -5 of Figure 1. The key slots 8 ofthecouplingplate-28 are adapted to receive the ends of the handles 24, as shown inFigure6. To retain the coupling plates 28 in their proper-positions onthe handle, annular collars 29 and. 3! are shown secured to each handleadjacent each end thereof, as best illustrated in Figure 5.

The flanges 29 and 3| are suitably'secured to the handle 24' in spacedrelation-by suchmeans as welding, thehandlepreferably being made oftubular stock such astubing or piping. --By referring to Figure 8, itwill be noted thatthe flanges 29 are relatively larger in diameterthan-the enlarged openings 23 in the coupling plates 28 whereby theylimit the inward movement of the coupling plateson the ends of thehandle 24, as will be understood. 'The flanges aresl-ightly smaller indiameter than the enlarged openings 23 of the key slots '8, whereby thecoupling plates 28 may readily be passed overthe flanges 3 i ,whenattaching the coupling members ZEto the handles 24 or uncoupling themtherefrom.

Each individual rigging, as hereinbefore stated, comprises a handle'24provided at each end with a draft element 25 which, in Figures 4 to-9,in-

clusive, are showneach having one end-connected to the handle 24 bysuitable eyes or staples -32. The opposite end of each draftelement25-is-provided with an attachment memberi, similar to the one shown in'Figures 1 and3, inclusive, which are adapted to engage the studsEisecuredto the I end walls of the drums.

When two or more drums or barrels are to be transported at one time, adraft bridle, generally designated by the numeral 33, is coupled to theleading rigging A,ias shown in Figures and 5 5. Each bridle is composedof a pair of cables 34 having their forward ends suitably securedtogether at 35 and provided with an eye 36, whereby the bridle may becoupled to the usual hitch or draw bar of a truck or tractor, partiallyindicated at 3? in Figures and 11. The bridle cables 34 are provided attheir rear ends with suitable attachment members 38, each provided witha key slot 8 similar to the one provided in the attachment elements 5,shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each attachment element 38 is preferably bent,as best shown in Figures 6 and 8, whereby when the bridle is coupled tohandle 24 of the leading rigging A, as shown in Figure 6, the cables 34will be positioned substantially coincident with the direct lines ofpull between the ends of the handle 24 and the eye 35 to which theforward ends of the bridle cables 34 are connected, when the truck ismoved forwardly to propel the drums, as shown in Figure 10.

6 "The bridle'33 may be quickly detachedfromthe handle 24 of I the"leadingrigging' A by first detaching-thecoupling membersZo fromthe'han- 'dl'es, after which the attachment elements 38 ofthebridle-Gt-may readily be detached from the ends-of the handle, aswill be understood by reference to Figure 8.

:In 'Figures 4" and 5 I have shown two drums 'coupled'togetherin'tandemand the bridle 33 coupled to the handle 24"of the'leading'rigging A.

reference to Figures-4, 5 and 6.

'The form of rigging illustrated in Figures 4to 9, inclusive, hasconsiderable utility in that it makes itpos'sible to transport oneor'moredr'ums at the same time by means of the coupling members-26.In'othe'r words, if the available power is such that a pluralityof drumsmay be propelled at the same time, several barrels or drums may becoupled together bythe coupling members 25,'itbeing understood that acomplete rigging such as A or "B must be provided for'each drum.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown another form of rigging adaptedfor'transporting four drums or barrels at one time. In th form hereshown, four handles 4| are provided, one for each drum. Theforward'handle 4| has abriclle 42 preferably permanently securedthereto, which comprises a, pair of cables 43 'having their rear endsconnectedto the forwardhandle 4| by suitable means such as indicated at44. The forward ends of the cables 43 are coupled together as shown at45, and are connected to an eye 46 which in turn may be" coupled to theusual hitch or drawbar-of a truck or tractor 3?, as indicated. Asuitable spring-41 may be provided between the bridle 42 and tractorhitch or truck hitch to absorb-shocks and the'like.

Each handle 4| is further provided-with a pair of draftelements orcables 48 whoseforward ends are suitably'connected to their respectivehandles ll by means of eye bolts or plates 49 fixed to their respectivehandles. Attachment members 5,similar to the one'shown in --Figure 1,are connected to the rear ends of the draft elements or cables 48 toprovide means for detachably connecting said cables to the studs 9 of thdrums.

The four handles 4| are coupled together in spaced relation by suitableflexible coupling members '5| which maybe-in the form of stranded cableshaving means at their ends for connecting them to adjacent handles asshown in Figure 11. In such a'riggingthe coupling member 5| may bepermanently secured to the handles, as shown, but not necessarily.

In the rigging shown in Figures 10 and 11 all of the handles 4| arepermanently connected to gether by the coupling members 5|. Therefore ina rigging such as shown in Figures 10 and 11, if less than four barrelsare to be transported at one time, a portion of the rigging will beunused as Will be understood. For average use the cables and drums maybe made of comparatively light weight material, stranded steel cableshaving great strength in proportion to their size, and the handles 4|may be made of fairly light gauge stock such as steel tubing.

The rigging hereindisclosed, is very simple and inexpensive inconstruction, as the draft elements 4 and 26 may be made of stockmaterial such as conventional chain or stranded cables. The attachmentmembers 5 and coupling plates 28 may readily be made of sheet metal in apunch press, and all of the other fittings are of such material anddesign that they may be made very inexpensively in quantity production,as will be understood.

The apparatus has been found to be extremely useful intransportingdrums, barrels and other items which are capable of being rolled alongIrough surfaces such as are very common at the "water fronts of newlyestablished beach heads, and other places where it may become necessaryto unload such materials at times. It also provides an efilcient andpractical rigging for use in the oil industry for transporting oil drumsand "the like from one plac to another, as will be understood.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplishedat least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also beapparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments hereindescribed may be variously changed and modified without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of usesand has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will beappreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only,and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rigging for handling drums and the like, each provided at each endwith an axially disposed stud, each having an enlarged head spacedoutwardly from its respective end wall, an elongated handle, flexibledraft elements each having one end connected to the handle, one adjacentto each end thereof, an attachment member for each draft element eachformed with a head having an elongated extension at one end, the ends ofwhich are secured to said draft elements, the head of each attachmentmember having a key slot therein whose longitudinal axis is aligned withsaid extension and the enlarged opening of which is located adjacent tosaid extension, whereby when the attachment members are engaged withtheir respective studs on the drum, said studs will be received in, therestricted ends of said slots whereby said attachment members cannotaccidently become disengaged from the studs when the draft elements aretaut, and the overall length of the extension of each of said membersfrom the enlarged portion of the slot of each member to the ends of saidextensions being relatively less than one-half the diameter of the drumsto be propelled by the rigging, whereby when the draft elements areslack and said extensions hang loosely from their respective studs, theenlarged portions of said slots are not aligned with the studs, wherebysaid attachment members are not likely to become disengaged from theirrespective studs, should the ends of the extensions engage the floor orground.

A rigging for transporting drums and the like by rolling said drumsalong a. floor or other surface, each drum being provided at each endwith a concentrically located stud, said rigging constituted of aplurality of independent units each comprising an elongated handlehaving flexible draft elements connected thereto in spaced relation,each draft element having an attachment member at its free end fordetaohably connecting them to the studs of a drum, and coupling membersprovided at each end with an attachment device engageable with thehandles of adjacent units, thereby to detachably couple together aplurality of such units in spaced relation for simultaneouslytransporting a plurality of drums in tandem formation.

3. A rigging for transporting drums and the like by rolling said drumsalong a floor or other surface, each drum being provided at each endwith a centrally located stud, said rigging constituted of a pluralityof like units each comprising an elongated handle having flexible draftelements connected thereto in spaced relation, each draft element havingan attachment member at its free end for detachably connecting them tothestuds of a drum, and a plurality of separable coupling membersprovided at each end with attachment devices engageable with means onthe handles of adjacent units, thereby to detachably couple together a,plurality of such units in spaced relation for simultaneouslytransporting a plurality of drums in tandem formation, said units whenuncoupled from one another, being readily usable as single units.

4. A rigging for transporting a plurality of drums and the like byrolling said drums along a floor or other surface, each drum beingprovided at each end with a centrally located stud, said riggingcomprising a plurality of elongated cross members, flexible couplingmembers permanently connecting together said cross members in spacedparallel relation in the direction of travel, a pair of draft elementsconnected to each cross members and having means at their free ends fordetachably connecting them to the studs of a drum, and the terminals ofeach cross member providing hand grips each adapted to be grasped by anoperators hand, and whereby a plurality of drums may be convenientlysimultaneously transported in tandem formation.

ERNEST W. ASHENDEN.

